2014 Gulen Institute Youth Platform International Essay Contest

The Gulen Institute Youth Platform has announced its fifth international essay contest, which is open to all high school students in grades 9th through 12th (SS1 to SS3) currently enrolled in public or private schools from across the nation and abroad. Students are invited to address global challenges and propose potential solutions based on their own research and experience. With this program, We hope to provide a chance for youth from around the world to engage each other in discussion and to advance cross-cultural understanding.

Every nation invests in education to develop its “human capital,” a goal of which is to maintain and further the nation’s dynamic progress. The target of most education, public as well as private, is limited mostly to those youth already on their way to competence and fulfillment. But real, long term benefits for any society will be derived from the education of both advantaged and disadvantaged youths. Disadvantaged youth are all too often overlooked because of a number of factors: poverty and malnutrition, language differences, student immature attitudes, schools with inadequate facilities, poorly prepared teachers, and weak parental support.

Topic

What role should state and non-profit agencies play in the education of disadvantaged youth who are not realizing their potential?

Organizer

The Gulen Institute at the University of Houston

Prizes

Contest winners will also be invited to participate in a platform held in Washington DC, at which they will have the opportunity to share their ideas and listen to their peers from around the world.

Deadline

20 December, 2013.

Guidelines

Address ONLY ONE of the following questions in an essay of approximately 2000 words.

1. How can state and non-profit agencies involve parents more in the education of their children whose disadvantages limit their educational opportunities?

2. How can state and non-profit agencies help educators improve their ability to understand the language and the values of students who are economically or socially disadvantaged and use language appropriate to educating these youth?

3. How can state and non-profit agencies help educators foster in students both an understanding of, and the means to, overcome the limitations of their backgrounds?

4. How can state and non-profit agencies help educators better understand the values and undeveloped abilities of disadvantaged students?

5. Students’ attitudes can limit their prospects as future parents and contributors to society. How can state and/or non-profit agencies help educators develop positive values and attitudes in these students?

6. Discuss whether state and non-profit agencies, as well as educators, should be involved in trying to alter at-risk students’ personalities. If so, what is the role of parents in such involvement?

7. Discuss whether or not, and under what circumstances, state and non-profit agencies should be involved in educational matters in which credentialed teachers are responsible for teaching at-risk students.

8. With respect for every student’s uniqueness, how can state and non-profit agencies aid in designing learning and social environments that support each student’s developing mind?

After addressing the questions you have chosen:

#Explain why you have chosen this question.

#Explain how you see the question as it relates to your own nation and contrast your nation’s policies with at least those of one other.